IPOH.

I am very excited to introduce you to this month’s featured foodie, who is also a fellow Malaysian food blogger from Ipoh, my home town in Malaysia. He called himself Motormouth, a pharmacist by day, this late 20s something food blogger is always on the move, looking for all the delicious food around Ipoh and sometimes interstates and share it with everyone on his popular blog. His witty and detailed writing never fails to capture the essence of the food scenes in Ipoh which always makes my mouthwatering. I read his blog regularly whenever I feel homesick and craving for a plate of rojak, dry curry mee, or a simple bowl of chicken noodle soup.

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Hence, the design of the ATFT Food Tee is inspired by the map of Perak state, showcasing some of the best local specialties in Ipoh town and other regions in the state. And who doesn’t like a thick slab of juicy meat, seriously?

Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the details of the design. And here is a little interview with Motormouth from Ipoh.

1. Tell us more about yourself, your background, your (and my) hometown, and also why Motormouth? It doesn’t sound very enticing for a food blog?
I am a guy in my late 20′s, residing and working in Ipoh, a charming city in the state of Perak in Malaysia. Ipoh is in the middle of Penang and Kuala Lumpur, for a better description. Why Motormouth? Haha, initially I named my blog as Food Glorious Food, but it sounded too generic. Hence I wanted something different. And Motormouth came to mind. I was named as such for a sharp tongue back in my schooling days, but this Motormouth moniker I adopt for the blog refers to my insatiable appetite and desire to devour instead.

2. What is your day job? I can see you blog almost everyday, where do you find the time?
I am a pharmacist, working with the government. Everyday? Haha … nolah, more like every other day. But I tend to write as often as possible, at least to finish up the backlogs of posts. After awhile, I might lose the desire to write about my dining experience or might just lost the receipt for the meal. Since my job is rather lenient; I plan my own work over the course of one year. And most of my travels are work-related anyway.

Oh … and I DO write during office hours. Sometimes.

3. Tell us one of your most memorable dining experience in Ipoh.
Now this is a toughie alright. Over the years, I have had so many positive and negative dining experiences. Strange enough, I remember the BAD ones easier. One being the rather recent food poisoning saga from a Thai-Malay restaurant in Ipoh which left me with no appetite at all for 4-5 days! And that was the period I spent my well-planned new year in Malacca. Ended up eating nibbles when the others were chomping down their ‘satay celup’ (a Malaccan specialty) and seafood with relish.

4. If I hand over a $500,000 check to you and ask you to shut down your blog, what would you choose?
I will definitely choose the money, shut down the blog then start a new one. Maybe a second travel blog also. With that amount of money, all my meals and travels will be paid for in the ensuing posts.

5. What are the food blogging scenes like in Malaysia, especially in Ipoh? Have you met many food bloggers in your city?
The food blogging scene is flourishing intensely, especially in Kuala Lumpur (KL), and Penang. But in Ipoh, food blogging is definitely in its infantile stage. I still crave for recommendations when it comes to new restaurants in Ipoh, as well as second opinions on reviewed outlets, which I am sure the readers will be the ones whom will benefit from. I have not met any food or non-food related bloggers in Ipoh yet, but I have met up with some food bloggers from KL and Penang on several occasions.

6. If you have to choose, what will be your last meal?
Definitely something rich, creamy or cheesy. Or tremendously spicy, so I can cry myself to sleep before my eventual departure. Heck, gimme a Banana Leaf Curry Rice meal and I’ll die a happy ghost!

7. Tell us about your process from visiting a restaurant to writing a blog post about it. Have you ever got into trouble taking photos of food in a restaurant?
Process? LOL. There is NO process. Really. I carry my camera around (a Panasonic Lumix LX3) all the time, to work and when I know that I’ll be dining out. I don’t make appointments, nor do I inform the restaurateurs before arrival. This is to avoid bias, of course. No trouble so far, as most of them did not even care when seeing me lugging around a small compact (almost) sized camera and went into snapping-frenzy. I usually answer: “Oh, it’s for my personal album … or something”.

8. Do you eat out every day? Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? Do you ever cook?
I have my breakfast and lunch outside, usually within the vicinity of my workplace in Ipoh. For dinner, I eat at home, but I don’t do my own cooking.

9. If I only have one day in Ipoh, where would you take me to taste the best food in Ipoh.
Best Food in Ipoh?! Wow .. .now that’s a hard one. Since Billy you’re already an Ipoh fella (duh), I’ll bring you around Old Town of Ipoh. Many tourists, and even locals do not notice the many, MANY great eats at every nook and corner. Most will only go for the white coffee, and that’s it. Plus the charming, quaint surroundings with heritage buildings preserved to this very day, you can eat all SIX of your meals here !!!

10. Ipoh is a small town and there are over 3000 readers reading your blog everyday, have you ever thought about whatever you have to say on your blog can really influence the food scene in Ipoh? For the worse in particular.
Erm, seriously I still find that the Ipohans believe the dailies, TV shows, and magazines more than food blogs. But I do believe (and I seriously wish to believe) that my blog can at least assist the net-savvy ones in making their dining choices, or a portal for the locals to share their culinary experiences. Not to mention a downright cruel temptation to the Ipohans staying overseas (hehe) who may be craving for a taste of local food. For the worse? Oh … hard to believe that my blog posts are THAT influential until they can change the eating pattern or habits of the locals, but probably I’ve irked more restaurant owners than anyone else, for I don’t mince my words in writing my experiences.

11. I noticed you do have a soft spot for western food. Have you been to any western countries? If not, how do your review and judge the authenticity of the western food? It is almost like we can never find a good bowl of Assam Laksa here in Sydney.
Yup, growing up in Malaysia, my tastebuds have grown accustomed to Western food cooked locally. Comparison is easy, as I’m sure you can tell a GOOD fish and chips from a BAD one easily, even before you reside in Australia. But to judge the authenticity is rather subjective. Hence, I tell it like it is. But some fine dining ‘wannabes’ really annoy the heck out of me. Charging exorbitant prices then serving the customers with pathetic foods, paired with ridiculously bad service …. Those are probably the reasons I put my faith in Ipoh’s street food more than anything else.

12. How would you describe the best bowl of Ipoh sar ho fun in less than 5 words?
DIE DIE ALSO MUST TRY.

13. What do you think the food scene in Ipoh would happen in 5 years time?
The food and beverages scene in Ipoh is developing at a rapid pace. Recently, a few chain restaurants originating from Kuala Lumpur opened their doors here, at De Garden of Ipoh, Coliseum Square and 1Casuarina on Gopeng Road. Goes to show that people can see that Ipoh’s a flourishing city, and it’s probably time to move forward instead of forever relying on the same old hawker fares. But just take a look at the Old Town White Coffee franchise here in Malaysia. From a small coffee shop named Nam Heong in Old Town, the brand expands to international level within a few years. Amazing huh? 10 years ago and you tell someone that a cafe selling white coffee, toast and half-boiled eggs at double the usual prices charged by coffee shops, and people would have branded you a loco. See how the F&B scene in Malaysia have changed now!

14. How do you poach an egg?
Firstly, google for a place that serves them. Secondly, go over and order one.

Too much hassle. I’ll boil or fry one anyday.

15. Where do you see yourself and your food blog in five years time?
In 5 years time, I probably will be 10kg heavier. And my food blog would be so congested with reviews, I’ll grow sick of writing anymore. Either that, or I will still be here, answering the second part of A Table For Two’s Featured Foodie segment. A fifth year anniversary coverage. Clearly I am getting ahead of myself here …….

The “Motormouth from Ipoh” limited edition t-shirts are now available from the ATFT shop. Limited to 50 units only.

[I am always on the look out for new food bloggers around the world to partake in this project. If you would like to be the next featured food blogger, please visit the shop page and get involved! ]

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